Johnny Depp at the BFI

The BFI is celebrating a living legend of cinema with a Johnny Depp season this month, offering a selection of films to showcase his versatility and range.

Depp is one of the greatest chameleons of cinema, and these films demonstrate why. From channelling Keith Richards as Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise and personifying cult novelist Hunter S. Thompson in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, to Edward Scissorhands and putting a new spin on old favourites such as Willy Wonka, Depp always produces memorable character portrayals, whether based on reality or fiction.

Depp’s appeal lies in his refusal to be typecast. Edward Scissorhands was his breakthrough role, and since then he has specialised in playing characters that go against the Hollywood grain. He remains staunchly true to his vision- his laidback persona hides a driven, determined nature. Studio bosses were fearful of how his interpretation of Captain Jack Sparrow would be perceived and consequently asked him to change it. Depp refused, and those bosses had to rapidly eat their words when Pirates of the Caribbean brought healthy box office takings that can surely be attributed largely to Depp (who can remember the one-dimensional roles of Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley?). Not only that, but box office success translated to critical success, with the role earning Depp his first Oscar nomination.

At 46 his output is truly staggering, and seeing this programme of films makes you excited for what the future may hold. Depp gets better and better and I look forward to seeing what he’s going to come up with next. It is a shame that his latest film, Alice in Wonderland (continuing his fruitful partnership with Tim Burton), has caused controversy before it has even been released. In this film he takes on another character from a children’s classic, the Mad Hatter, which promises to be just as unique as the quirky twist he gave to Willy Wonka. It has been withdrawn from Odeon cinema schedules due to a row over shortening the number of weeks between cinema and DVD release. But such setbacks are unlikely to affect Depp. He is untouchable, and will emerge unscathed- if anything, he will become even more popular.

Depp stands out not only for his roles, but for the way he has distanced himself from the publicity and scandals that are a staple of the lives of many film stars. Celebrity magazines are always full of Brangelina, never Johnny Depp. He has avoided this by living quietly in France with his family, a world away from Hollywood. The element of mystery surrounding his personal life ensures his screen roles remain similarly enigmatic. He puts himself on the screen through his characters, not in the pages of Heat magazine. He doesn’t need the publicity- his roles speak for themselves.

Living his own life, treading his own path and constantly undertaking challenging roles that allow him to explore his characters and his craft has done Depp no harm so far. This is a fitting tribute to a truly unique icon of today’s cinema, and while Willy Wonka and the Mad Hatter will already introduce him to a whole new generation of fans, this is a chance to remind them of what came before, whilst giving the rest of us a chance to remind ourselves of the career trajectory of a chameleon at work.

Thanks to his wide range of films and characters Depp appeals to all generations, and his movies work best on the big screen for which they were made. They can be watched over and over, so go catch them- again- while you can.

Johnny Depp season, to 28 February.
The BFI will be showing Alice in Wonderland in IMAX 3D from 5-25 March.
www.bfi.org.uk